Cincinnati Reds help Harrison baseball coach Shawn Sowders after a devastating house fire

VIDEO Midland helps Harrison family who lost home to fire. Scott Springer reports
The Enquirer/Scott Springer

Harrison High School baseball coach Shawn Sowders, far left, and his family, are recognize before an interleague baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

Less than three weeks ago, Shawn Sowders' phone rang at a baseball game.

A neighbor informed the longtime Harrison High School baseball coach and teacher that his home was on fire and in the span of that phone call, he knew life would be forever different.

Sowders and his wife, Misty, lost their home June 16 in a fire. They lost two dogs in the fire. They lost memories and keepsakes that come from a life lived in the same place.

"It was in between games," Sowders said of the phone call. "We had just finished the first game and I was walking up to get something to drink and I get a phone call and my first thing was get my dogs out and they said they couldn't get in.

"Later on, to find out the house was probably gone before the firemen ever got there. It ended up being they had to contain it more than anything else because it had already traveled through all the rafters ... we were in trouble."

Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, Sowders – surrounded by current and former players he's coached – was honored by the Cincinnati Reds with a trophy, a replacement for the 2015 MSA coach of the year trophy that was lost in the fire.

Cincinnati Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman (35), left, presents Harrison High School baseball coach Shawn Sowders a replacement plaque for a 2015 outstanding baseball coach award after the original was lost in a fire, Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

The Reds also had a special ticket offer where a portion of each ticket purchased through the promotion was donated to the Sowders family.

"It's incredible," Sowders said, with his granddaughter Piper in his arms. "Beyond just our little town of Harrison, the whole city of Cincinnati has picked up on it and it's really been a help for all of us, for the whole family."

Harrison High School baseball coach Shawn Sowders, far left, and his family react after he's told he's throwing out the first pitch before an interleague baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

Tragedy is unavoidable. It's a consequence of life. No one escapes it, and while what burned that day can't ever be replaced, the Sowders learned a valuable lesson about life that not even fire can erode.

"You know, you start to feel a little bit sorry for yourself after a while and you're like 'woe is me, all my stuff is gone,' but then you see a whole community jump in and people volunteering their time. I went down to the Gold Star Chili (fundraiser) and all the waitresses and waiters they all donated their tips. It's humbling ... it's very humbling."

Shawn and Misty's oldest daughter, Lacey, said: "There's definitely a silver lining to be talked about. Obviously, it's a tragic incident and they lost everything but I didn't know that many people lived in Harrison to be honest with you, as far as the car wash people showing up and the Gold Star Chili dinner and the GoFundMe is off the charts, and down here tonight a bunch of his former and current players are here, and our entire extended family is here.